Peter Houston has blasted Dunfermline – accusing them of ‘shopping’ his Falkirk striker Myles Hippolyte and acting unprofessionally in the wake of their controversial derby.

The Bairns boss yesterday accepted the SFA’s two-game ban on Hippolyte and revealed the player would be disciplined for the dive that won his team a penalty as they fought back from a goal behind to win 2-1 on Saturday.

But most of Houston’s anger was directed at Dunfermline for posting a video on their Twitter account, along with diver emojis.

And that was followed with comments from Pars captain Andy Geggan and keeper Sean Murdoch who demanded action be taken against the striker.

Falkirk's Myles Hippolyte accepted a two-match SFA ban for his dive against the Pars

And the Falkirk boss revealed the Dunfermline management launched a verbal tirade at who they thought was Hippolyte in the tunnel after the game – only it was Nathan Austin, who scored the winner at East End Park.

But the Pars got their wish for action against Hippolyte yesterday when SFA compliance officer Tony McGlennan issued a notice of complaint offering a two-match ban, which Houston has accepted after conceding his player “duped” the whistler.

But a seething Houston said: “Dunfermline have been so unprofessional in some of the comments, tweets and other things I’ve been shown.

Read More

"The lads Murdoch and Geggan have been quick to criticise Myles but I haven’t seen any for their team-mate (David Hopkirk), who was booked for doing exactly the same thing.

“We will look after ourselves but I have been disappointed with their lack of professionalism, wanting to shop people.

"I understand the frustration, we were given a penalty we shouldn’t have been given. But it was seven minutes into the second half. For them to say it cost them the game shows they lost their composure, their professionalism and the match.

“We’ll move on from it but we are disappointed in some of the reactions from Dunfermline.

“Even to the extent of their management team getting the wrong player, Nathan, coming down the tunnel and accusing him of diving. They later chapped the door to apologise to him but they got that wrong.

“We have taken 10 points from 12 against Dunfermline this season and I would suggest it could have been 12 if not for a debatable penalty given against Tom Taiwo in December. But we didn’t complain about it and cry like babies.”

Dunfermline pair Nat Wedderburn and Nicky Clark speak to the referee at full time (Image: SNS Group)

Houston also dismissed any suggestion the fixture was too big for up-and-coming official Gavin Duncan and says he’ll phone the SFA head of refereeing about him.

He said: “Myles comes across at an angle, Murdoch palms it away – in the direction the ball would’ve gone if Myles had got first touch. So I sympathise with the referee.

“He got one decision wrong in the entire match. I am going to phone John Fleming and praise his performance.”

Houston confirmed Hippolyte will be disciplined and added: “We accept he duped the referee into thinking there was a touch. Myles will be punished by me because I don’t want that at Falkirk.”